I live in Texas but my pool is under a huge oak tree with shade cloth over it to keep the oak leaves and acorns out of the pool, so I have almost 90 percent shade. Even though it gets hot here in Texas its at the end of June and we are having 60-70 degree nights. I have 9 solar panels to heat the pool but we have found that we lose about 6 to eight degrees if we leave the solar cover off at night. We don't use it to heat the pool in the day, but to keep the heat in during the night. Also it sure helps to keep the water from evaporating which is actually keeping the heat in the pool since evaporation is a form of cooling.

My solar bubble blanket is very heavy and add a little water on it and you can barely even move it until you get it all in the pool. It is such a hassle and hard work to get the cover into the pool to cover it. I want to get a good reel that will last. I assumed a lot of people would use covers, but I guess I assumed wrong. It is a must for us. And I did go for a swim this morning with the water at 89 degrees and man did it feel good at AM this morning. The good thing about our solar panels is that when it gets hotter this summer I can turn them on at night and cool the pool. But until then I need the blanket. Thanks for any info on a good reel from anyone that knows about them.

Aranon